Method and apparatus for setting up call in mobile communication system

ABSTRACT

The time required to set up a voice call in an exemplary embodiment, in which Circuit Switched Fallback (CSFB) is used, is reduced to provide a voice call service to a User Equipment (UE) in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system. If a voice call occurs in a UE while the UE accesses the LTE system, the UE using CSFB switches to a 2G/3G legacy system, recycles system information for a 2G/3G cell that the UE has accessed before, and immediately proceeds with voice call setup without receiving system information unnecessary for a CSFB process.

PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of a Koreanpatent application filed on Mar. 30, 2012 in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office and assigned Serial No. 10-2012-0033607, the entiredisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mobile communication system. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatusfor setting up a voice call during a Circuit Switched Fallback (CSFB)service.

2. Description of the Related Art

Mobile communication systems have been developed to provide voiceservices while ensuring a user's activity. However, the mobilecommunication systems have extended their coverage to include dataservices beyond the voice services. At present, the mobile communicationsystems have been developed to be able to provide high-speed dataservices as well. However, mobile communication systems according to therelated art suffer a lack of resources and user demand for higher-speedservices continually increases. Thus, further advanced wirelesscommunication systems are required.

To meet the demands for advanced wireless communication systems, the 3rdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP) has been proceeding withstandardization for a Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication system asone of the next-generation communication systems under development. TheLTE system generally supports only packet services. Hence, the LTEstandard proposes a Circuit Switched Fallback (CSFB) service to providevoice calls to users.

FIG. 1 illustrates configuration of a general system that uses a CSFBfunction according to the related art.

Referring to FIG. 1, the CSFB service refers to a service, in which if avoice call occurs for a User Equipment (UE) 150 that camps on an LTEsystem 130 connected to an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) 110, the UE 150 ishanded over to an existing 2G/3G legacy system 120 so as to be connectedto the voice call. The EPC 110 and the existing 2G/3G legacy system 120are operatively connected to a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 100.

According to the CSFB process, the UE 150 may perform handover from theLTE system 130 to the 2G/3G legacy system 120 as illustrated in FIG. 1.In order for the UE 150 to have access to the 2G/3G legacy system 120,the UE 150 must receive system information from the 2G/3G legacy system120. The system information may be divided into multiple blocksdepending on the contents included therein, and each System InformationBlock (SIB) is repeatedly broadcasted at intervals of a few millisecondsto a few seconds depending on the system settings.

As described above, in order for the UE 150 to access the 2G/3G legacysystem 120, the UE 150 must receive system information from the 2G/3Glegacy system 120 at regular intervals, thereby causing significantdegradation of the Quality of Service (QoS) that the UE 150 experiences.In contrast to the process for setting up a voice call directly in theexisting 2G/3G legacy system 120, setting up a voice call using CSFBrequires an additional process of switching from the LTE system 130 tothe 2G/3G legacy system 120 and receiving system information from the2G/3G legacy system 120. As a result of the time required for handlingthe additional process is longer, the QoS that the UE experiences maydegrade more significantly.

Therefore, a need exists for a method and apparatus for reducing thetime required to set up a voice call in an environment in which CSFB isused.

The above information is presented as background information only toassist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determinationhas been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the abovemight be applicable as prior art with regard to the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention are to address at least theabove-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at leastthe advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the presentinvention is to provide a method and apparatus for reducing the timerequired to set up a voice call in an environment in which CircuitSwitched Fallback (CSFB) is used, thereby to provide a voice callservice to a User Equipment (UE) in a mobile communication system.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method andapparatus for preventing degradation of the QoS that a UE's userexperiences.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method forsetting up a call by a UE in a mobile communication system is provided.The method includes switching from a first communication system based ona high-speed packet to a second communication system based on a voicecall, if a voice call occurs in the UE while the UE accesses the firstcommunication system, determining whether reception of systeminformation required for CSFB from the second communication system iscompleted, and performing a CSFB procedure without reception ofadditional system information, if the reception of system informationrequired for CSFB is completed.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an apparatusfor setting up a call by a UE in a mobile communication system isprovided. The apparatus includes a controller for switching from a firstcommunication system based on a high-speed packet to a secondcommunication system based on a voice call if a voice call occurs in theUE while the UE accesses the first communication system, for determiningwhether reception of system information required for CSFB in systeminformation from the second communication system is completed, and forperforming a CSFB procedure without reception of additional systeminformation if the reception of system information required for CSFB iscompleted.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method forsetting up a call by a UE in a mobile communication system is provided.The method includes switching from a first communication system based ona high-speed packet to a second communication system based on a voicecall, if a voice call occurs in the UE while the UE accesses the firstcommunication system, receiving system information required for CSFBfrom the second communication system, determining whether the systeminformation required for CSFB is consistent with pre-stored systeminformation, and performing a CSFB procedure without reception ofadditional system information, if the system information required forCSFB is consistent with pre-stored system information.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an apparatusfor setting up a call in a mobile communication system is provided. Theapparatus includes a controller for switching from a first communicationsystem based on a high-speed packet to a second communication systembased on a voice call, if a voice call occurs in a UE while the UEaccesses the first communication system, and a receiver for receivingsystem information required for CSFB from the second communicationsystem. The controller is configured to determine whether the systeminformation required for CSFB is consistent with pre-stored systeminformation, and is configured to perform a CSFB procedure withoutreception of additional system information, if the system informationrequired for CSFB is consistent with pre-stored system information.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method forsetting up a call in a mobile communication system is provided. Themethod includes sending a message for initiating CSFB and performingmeasurement, if a voice call occurs in a UE that has been accessing acommunication system based on a high-speed packet, and upon receiving ameasurement command from an evolved Node B (eNB), transmitting themeasurement results to the eNB and performing a CSFB procedure.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an apparatusfor setting up a call in a mobile communication system is provided. Theapparatus includes a controller for sending a message for initiatingCSFB and performing measurement, if a voice call occurs in a UE that hasbeen accessing a communication system based on a high-speed packet, andfor, upon receiving a measurement command from an eNB, transmitting themeasurement results and performing a CSFB procedure.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method forsetting up a call in a mobile communication system is provided. Themethod includes sending a message for initiating CSFB, if a voice calloccurs in a UE that has been accessing a communication system based on ahigh-speed packet, and performing a CSFB procedure, upon receiving froman eNB a command message for commanding to switch from the communicationsystem based on a high-speed packet to a communication system based on acircuit.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an apparatusfor setting up a call in a mobile communication system is provided. Theapparatus includes a transmitter for sending a message for initiatingCSFB, if a voice call occurs in a UE that has been accessing acommunication system based on a high-speed packet, and a controller forperforming a CSFB procedure, upon receiving from an eNB a commandmessage for commanding to switch from the communication system based ona high-speed packet to a communication system based on a circuit based.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings,discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of certainexemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparentfrom the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates configuration of a general system that uses a CircuitSwitched Fallback (CSFB) function according to the related art;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a User Equipment (UE) according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an operation of performing a CSFB process accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates an operation of a UE for performing a CSFB processaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates an operation of a UE for performing a CSFB processaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 illustrates an operation of a UE for performing a CSFB processaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood torefer to like parts, components and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings isprovided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of embodiments ofthe invention as defined by the claims and their equivalents. Itincludes various specific details to assist in that understanding butthese are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those ofordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes andmodifications of the embodiments described herein can be made withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention. In addition,descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omittedfor clarity and conciseness.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are notlimited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by theinventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of theinvention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in theart that the following description of exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention is provided for illustration purpose only and not forthe purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claimsand their equivalents.

It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the”include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes referenceto one or more of such surfaces.

The terms ‘System Information Block (SIB)’, ‘system information’ and‘cell information’ as used herein will be used interchangeably in thesame meaning in a mixed manner. In addition, the term ‘key systeminformation’ as used herein may refer to the system informationessential for a Circuit Switched Fallback (CSFB), which corresponds tosystem information required for the CSFB. The system informationrequired for the CSFB includes, for example, a SIB 1 to a SIB 10.

Although specific systems such as a Long Term Evolution (LTE) systemand/or the 2G/3G legacy system will be considered in this specification,it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that exemplaryembodiments of the present invention are not limited to these systems,but may be applied to any other systems in the similar technical fields.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a method andapparatus for reducing the time required to set up a voice call in anenvironment in which CSFB is used for providing a voice call service toa UE in an LTE system.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a method forswitching to a 2G/3G legacy system and then receiving a voice call in anoptimized way, if the voice call occurs in a UE that uses CSFB and thathas been accessing an LTE system.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention propose the followingfive approaches to reduce the time required to set up a voice call in anenvironment in which CSFB is used.

First, after switching to the 2G/3G legacy system and thereafterreceiving all cell information (e.g., system information or SIB)therefrom, a UE with a CSFB function receives a voice call withoutreceiving some SIBs (e.g., a SIB 11 and a SIB 12) which are notpresently required for the CSFB. For example, the UE having a CSFBfunction receives a voice call by accessing the 2G/3G system withoutreceiving an SIB 11 and an SIB 12 thereby reducing the time required toset up the voice call. Information of the SIB is divided into severaldifferent types. In particular, information of the SIB 11, whichincludes information related to neighbor cells, is not urgently requiredin this particular situation. In this case, therefore, information ofthe SIB 11 may be received at a later time. As a result and because theSIB 11 and the SIB 12 are not immediately required for the CSFBfunction, the UE may reduce the time required to set up a voice call bynot immediately receiving the SIB 11 and SIB 12. For more detail on sucha process, the operation thereof will be described below with referenceto FIG. 6.

Second, when a UE camps on a cell in the existing 2G/3G legacy system,the UE with a CSFB function (e.g., a CSFB UE) may store systeminformation for two or more cells without discarding the systeminformation previously acquired for the cells. The UE may storeinformation for two or more cells without discarding the systeminformation acquired for the cells because the UE needs to determinewhether the cell information stored therein is now valid in the cell inorder to receive a voice call, when the UE accesses the 2G/3G legacysystem. The UE may store the cell information in a list. If the UEdetermines that the stored cell information is valid, the UE may receivethe voice call using the pre-stored cell information withoutadditionally receiving cell information, thereby potentially reducingthe time required to set up a voice call. For more detail on such aprocess, the operation thereof will be described below with reference toFIG. 5.

Third, the UE with a CSFB function according to the related art switchesto an idle mode to receive system information and receives cellinformation, upon its entry into a new 2G/3G system, and thereafterswitches to a connected mode and receives the service if necessary. Incontrast, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention,when the UE uses the 2G/3G legacy system for the CSFB function, the UEmay directly transition to the connected mode and receive the service,without switching to the idle mode.

Fourth, by modifying the structure of a UE to a dual radio structurerather than a single radio structure, it is possible to performmeasurement for a cell of the 2G/3G system at the time the CSFB functionis triggered. According to a further optimized method, ameasurement-dedicated receiver for the 2G/3G system may be additionallyprovided, and the LTE system sends an Extended Service Request (ESR)message (e.g., a message indicating its execution of the CSFB service)and performs measurement on the cell of the 2G/3G system. For moredetail on such a process, the operation thereof will be described belowwith reference to FIG. 4.

Fifth, according to an optimized method from the viewpoint of the LTEsystem, after the ESR is performed, a CSFB UE may minimize the CSFBservice time by omitting the optional security procedure that wasperformed in the LTE system according to the related art. For moredetail on such a process, the operation thereof will be described belowwith reference to FIG. 3.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention may apply the foregoingapproaches individually or collectively, and the application of theapproaches is not limited.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a UE according to an exemplary embodimentof the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the UE includes an LTE/legacy transceiver 210, acontroller 220, and a storage 230.

The controller 220 controls and handles the overall operation of the UE(e.g., performing voice calls, performing data calls, executing anapplication, and the like), sends a request to the system during a CSFBprocess, or handles (e.g., processes) a command message received fromthe system, and operates according thereto. The UE receives through theLTE/legacy transceiver 210 information about the cell on which the UEcamps, or the cells for which the UE has performed measurement, andstores the received information in the storage 230.

FIG. 3 illustrates an operation of performing a CSFB process accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, a UE initiates a CSFB process by initiating auser's outgoing call in the case of Mobile Originating (MO), and byreceiving a paging message from the LTE system in the case of MobileTerminating (MT). If the CSFB process is initiated for an MO call or anMT call, the UE sends an ESR message to a Mobile Management Entity (MME)to initiate the CSFB process in step 301. A detailed description of theCSFB initiation process will be omitted in this specification.

Upon receiving the ESR message for a CSFB process from the UE, the MMEsends a request message indicating that the UE should switch to a 2G/3Gnetwork for CSFB, to an evolved Node B (eNB) in step 303. The requestmessage may correspond to an S1-AP request message, and may include aCSFB indicator.

Upon receiving the request message, the eNB selects the 2G/3G cell towhich the UE should switch for CSFB (e.g., performs a measurementprocess if necessary) in step 305.

In step 307, the eNB sends a message indicating that the UE needs toswitch for the CSFB process to a 2G/3G Base Station Subsystem(BSS)/Radio Network Subsystem (RNS) for the cell. The messagetransmitted by the eNB to the BSS/RNS may include parameter(s) that theUE should use during an initial access in the 2G/3G network. In thisprocess, the eNB may deliver UE information (e.g., UE identifier,security context, UE context information, and the like) to the BSS/RNS.

Upon receiving the UE information, the BSS/RNS sends initial accessinformation (e.g., SIB information and channel setup information) to theeNB in step 309. As an example, the initial access informationtransmitted by the BSS/RNS to the eNB may be based on which the UE mayperform CSFB in 2G/3G. In this process, the BSS/RNS may reserve inadvance the wireless resources that the UE may use when proceeding witha CS call.

Upon receiving the information, the eNB sends to the UE the informationthat the eNB received from the BSS/RNS in step 311. The eNB may sendsuch information to the UE together while sending a command to switch tothe 2G/3G for CSFB.

In step 313, the UE may immediately start the CS call setup processwithout any extra process of receiving information because the UE hasreceived in advance the information required during initial access inthe 2G/3G cell, from the eNB. Through this process, the CS call setuptime for the user may be reduced.

FIG. 4 illustrates an operation of a UE for performing a CSFB processaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, in step 401, the UE determines whether CSFB isperformed. If the UE determines that CFSB is not performed, the UE maycontinue to poll for an indication that CFSB is to be performed. If theUE determines that CSFB is performed, the UE may operativelysimultaneously perform the existing CSFB process and the measurementprocess. In other words, the UE includes both an LTE transceiver forperforming the operations of steps 403 and 405, and a 2G/3G receiver forperforming the measurement operation of step 407.

If the CSFB process is performed, the LTE transceiver performs theexisting CSFB process and at the same time, the 2G/3G receiver performsthe measurement process for the neighbor 2G/3G cells in parallel.

In step 403, the LTE transceiver sends an ESR message in the CSFBprocess.

In step 405, the UE receives a measurement command from the eNB.

Thereafter, upon receiving a measurement command from the eNB, the UEreports the measurement results that the 2G/3G receiver has obtainedusing the LTE transceiver in step 409.

In step 411, the UE performs the remaining CSFB procedure. In otherwords, if CSFB is required, in contrast to the related art which canperform the measurement process only after receiving a measurementcommand during the CSFB process, according to exemplary embodiments ofthe present invention, the UE may perform in advance the measurement forthe 2G/3G cells, and transmit the measurement results upon receiving ameasurement command, thereby potentially reducing the time required forthe CSFB process.

FIG. 5 illustrates an operation of a UE for performing a CSFB processaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, in step 502, the UE initiates a CSFB process byinitiating a user's outgoing call in the case of an MO call, and byreceiving a paging message from the LTE system in the case of an MTcall. A detailed description of the CSFB initiation process will beomitted in this specification. In step 502, the UE determines whether aCSFB process is to be performed. If the UE determines that a CSFBprocess is not performed, the UE may continue to poll for an indicationthat CFSB is to be performed. In contrast, if the UE determines that aCSFB process is performed, the UE proceeds to step 504.

In step 504, the UE receives from the eNB a command message forcommanding to switch to the 2G/3G legacy system, for the CSFB process.The message used in this process may include a Radio Resource Control(RRC) Connection Release message. The UE switches to the relevant cellusing the information (e.g., cell information of a 2G or 3G network)contained in the command message, and performs an initial access process(physical frequency channel synchronization).

Thereafter, in step 506, the UE receives and stores key systeminformation (e.g., Master Information Blocks (MIBs) and SchedulingBlocks (SBs)). The key system information may include the number of SIBsbroadcasted from the system, transmission scheduling information (e.g.,channel positions in the time and frequency domains), and a value tagindicating whether SIBs are modified.

In step 508, the UE determines whether the UE has stored in the storage230 the system information of the cell to which the UE switched. If theUE has not stored the system information, the UE proceeds to step 514 inwhich the UE receives and stores the remaining SIBs other than the keysystem information.

In step 516, the UE performs the remaining CSFB procedure withoutperforming the reception of the system information any longer.

In contrast, if the UE has stored the system information at step 508,the UE proceeds to step 510 in which the UE compares the received keysystem information with the pre-stored system information.

Thereafter, the UE proceeds to step 512, in which the UE determineswhether the system information is changed. If the UE determines that thesystem information is not changed in step 512, then the UE proceeds tostep 516 in which the UE performs the remaining CSFB procedure withoutperforming the reception of the system information any longer.

Conversely, if the UE determines that the system information is changedin step 512, then the UE receives and stores the remaining SIBs in step514, and performs the remaining CSFB procedure in step 516 (e.g., sendsan RRC connection request and then performs a succeeding process). Ifthe UE has not stored in the storage 230 the system information for thecell, to which the UE switched, the UE receives the remaining SIBs otherthan the key system information, and then performs the remaining CSFBprocess. As the key system information includes a value tag for eachSIB, the UE may receive only the modified blocks among all the SIBs, andthen perform the remaining CSFB processes. The UE may store the receivedsystem information in the storage and use such received systeminformation later on.

FIG. 6 illustrates an operation of a UE for performing a CSFB processaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, in step 602, the UE initiates a CSFB process byinitiating an outgoing call in the case of an MO call, and by receivinga paging message from the LTE system in the case of an MT call. In step602, the UE determines whether a CSFB process is to be performed. If theUE determines that a CSFB process is not performed, the UE may continueto poll for an indication that CFSB is to be performed. In contrast, ifthe UE determines that a CSFB process is performed, the UE proceeds tostep 604.

In step 604, the UE receives a command message for commanding to switchto the 2G/3G legacy system, from the eNB for the CSFB process. Themessage used in this process may include an RRC Connection Releasemessage. The UE switches to the relevant cell using the information(e.g., cell information of a 2G or 3G network) contained in the commandmessage, and performs an initial access process (physical frequencychannel synchronization).

Thereafter, in step 606, the UE receives and stores key systeminformation (e.g., MIBs and SBs). The key system information may includethe number of SIBs broadcasted from the system, transmission schedulinginformation (e.g., channel positions in the time and frequency domains),and a value tag indicating whether SIBs are modified.

In step 608, the UE receives SIBs based on the scheduling informationfor the system information. Some of the SIBs may not be essential in theprocess in which the UE sets up a voice call in the 2G/3G cell using theCSFB. For example, the system information, which is not essential forCSFB, includes an SIB 11 or an SIB 12 and the system informationessential for CSFB includes SIB 1˜SIB 10. According to exemplaryembodiments of the present invention, an indication or identification asto which of the SIBs are essential or inessential in the CSFB processmay be set in advance in the UE, or may be set using Management Objectof Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) Device Management (DM).

In step 610, the UE determines whether the SIBs are essential for theCSFB. The UE may determine whether the SIBs are essential for the CSFBwhile receiving and storing SIBs depending on the schedulinginformation. According to exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention, step 610 may be repeated until all the SIBs essential forCSFB are received. If all the SIBs which are set to be essential arereceived in the CSFB process, the UE proceeds to step 612.

In step 612, the UE immediately performs the remaining CSFB process(e.g., sends an RRC Connection request and then performs a succeedingprocess) even though the reception of some SIBs, which are set to beunnecessary in the CSFB process, is not completed. In this case, the UEmay indicate the UE's access to the 2G or 3G legacy system by addingindication to the RRC Connection Request message without receiving someof the SIBs.

If the UE continuously uses the 2G or 3G legacy system after the voicecall through the CSFB process is terminated, and the UE needs to receivethe remaining SIBs that the UE has not received. In this case, the UEmay receive the remaining SIBs that the UE has not receivedspontaneously. If the UE includes, in an RRC Connection Request message,information indicating that the UE has attempted the access withoutreceiving some system information as described above, the eNB maydirectly deliver the SIBs that the UE has not received, using RRCmessages (e.g., RRC Connection Release message).

As described above, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill inthe art that exemplary embodiments of the present invention (e.g.,exemplary embodiments of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 5and 6) may be used in combination. Specifically, the UE may receive keysystem information and determine whether the received key systeminformation is consistent with its stored system information inaccordance with FIG. 5. If the UE needs to newly receive systeminformation as the system information is modified, the UE mayadditionally receive only the system information necessary in the CSFBprocess and immediately performs CSFB, as described in conjunction withFIG. 4.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be implemented ascomputer-readable codes in non-transitory computer-readable recordingmedia. The non-transitory computer-readable recording media may includeall kinds of recording devices storing computer-readable data. Examplesof the recording media may include Read Only Memories (ROMs), RandomAccess Memories (RAMs), Compact Disk (CD)-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppydisks, and optical data storage devices, and may also be implemented inthe form of carrier waves (for example, transmission over the Internet).

As is apparent from the foregoing description, if a voice call occurs ina UE that has been accessing an LTE system, the UE switches from the LTEsystem to a 2G/3G legacy system, and then recycles the systeminformation broadcasted from the 2G/3G system that the UE has accessedbefore, thereby making improvement in the QoS that the UE experiencespossible.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention may reduce the timerequired to start a voice call using a method of immediately proceedingwith the voice call setup without receiving system informationunnecessary in the CSFB process.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference tocertain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for performing a circuit switchedfallback (CSFB) procedure by a terminal in a mobile communicationsystem, the method comprising: receiving a first control messageincluding switching information from a first communication system basedon a packet switched service to a second communication system based on acircuit switched service, from a base station; switching a serving cellfrom a first cell of the first communication system to a second cell ofthe second communication system based on the switching information;receiving first information from the second cell; determining whethersecond information of the second cell is stored; determining whether thesecond information has been changed based on a value tag included in thefirst information if the second information is stored; and transmittinga second control message without reception of the second information tothe second cell if the value tag indicates that the second informationhas not been changed, wherein the second information is previouslyacquired in the second communication system.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the first information includes at least one of a number ofsystem information blocks (SIBs), scheduling information, and a valuetag indicating whether SIBs are modified.
 3. An apparatus for performinga circuit switched fallback (CSFB) procedure by a terminal in a mobilecommunication system, the apparatus comprising: a transceiver configuredto receive and transmit a signal; and a controller configured to receivea first control message including switching information from a firstcommunication system based on a packet switched service to a secondcommunication system based on a circuit switched service, from a basestation, to switch a serving cell from a first cell of the firstcommunication system to a second cell of the second communication systembased on the switching information, to receive first information fromthe second cell, to determine whether second information of the secondcell is stored, to determine whether the second information has beenchanged based on a value tag included in the first information if thesecond information is stored, and to transmit a second control messagewithout reception of the second information to the second cell if thevalue tag indicates that the second information has not been changed,wherein the second information is previously acquired in the secondcommunication system.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the firstinformation includes at least one of a number of system informationblocks (SIBs), scheduling information, and a value tag indicatingwhether SIBs are modified.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the firstinformation includes essential system information for CSFB procedure. 6.The method of claim 1, wherein the first control message includes aradio resource control (RRC) connection release message.
 7. The methodof claim 1, further comprising: receiving the second information if thesecond information is not stored.
 8. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: receiving the second information if the value tag indicatesthat the second information has been changed.
 9. The method of claim 1,wherein the second control message includes an RRC connection requestmessage.
 10. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first informationincludes essential system information for CSFB procedure.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 3, wherein the first control message includes a radioresource control (RRC) connection release message.
 12. The apparatus ofclaim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to receive thesecond information if the second information is not stored.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured toreceive the second information if the value tag indicates that thesecond information has been changed.
 14. The apparatus of claim 3,wherein the second control message includes an RRC connection requestmessage.
 15. The method of claim 8, further comprising: storing thereceived second information.
 16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein thecontroller is configured to store the received second information.